Is Herman Cain Pro-Choice?

There’s no doubt that Herman Cain is a fiscal conservative. He never misses a chance to promote his 999 plan or outline his vision for economic growth and recovery. Most of his stump speeches focus on the economy, foreign policy, immigration, even energy independence.

Rarely do social issues come up, specifically the conservative hot topic of abortion. When Cain has addressed the issue, he says he believes that life begins with conception. And he doesn’t believe that abortion should be allowed – ever – even in cases of rape or incest. His seemingly pro-life stance usually garners some applause from his audience.

Cain reiterated his pro-life stance during his interview with Piers Morgan on CNN Wednesday night; but the takeaway was surprisingly revealing in that the one-time associate Baptist minister stated that it was the right of the individual to make personal decisions.

“I believe that life begins at conception and abortion, under no circumstances,” Cain told Morgan. Pressed on if he would apply this same directive to his grandchildren, Cain candidly responded.

“It comes down to, it’s not the government’s role or anybody’s role to make that decision. Secondly, if you look at the statistical incidents, you’re not talking about that number. What I’m saying is it ultimately gets down to a choice that the family or that mother has to make. Not me as president, not some politician, not a bureaucrat. It gets down to that family. And whatever they decide. I shouldn’t have to tell them what decision to make for such a sensitive issue.”

So while Cain indicated a personal objection to abortion, he alluded to an individual’s right to choose. “I can have an issue on a opinion without it being a directive on the nation. The nation shouldn’t be trying to tell people everything to do, especially when it comes to social decision that they need to make.”

During the hour-long interview, Morgan also polled him on the current GOP field and revisited some of Cain’s recent controversies since his rise in the polls. Controversies including his comments about an electrified fence along the southern border of the United States, releasing Guantanamo prisoners in exchange for Americans, Occupy Wall Street protestors, and his belief that homosexuality is a choice. Cain stood his ground on most assertions he’s made in the past.

Asked who were the candidates he respected the most as potential nominees, Cain made it clear that his chances were still looking good. “Well, I would say Newt Gingrich and Mitt Romney – that I would feel comfortable if I didn’t get it. But I have a lot of confidence in the type of job they would do.”

Asked who he would have the least respect for? Cain hesitated then finally settled on Congressman Ron Paul.

” I don’t believe Representative Ron Paul would be a good president,” said Cain. “Because most of his ideas and positions are eliminate rather than fix. We need to fix a lot of things in this country. I don’t believe in throwing the baby out with the bath water. We have more things that we can fix than things that we can do away with.”

In his new book, Cain singled out Ron Paul supporters for asking “stupid questions” regarding the Federal Reserve at his campaign stops.

On the unemployed, Cain said, “I know some of these people. The 14 million who cannot find a job, The underemployed. You know what they are doing? They are still looking for a job and they can’t find one. I know people like this,” Cain told Morgan. “They don’t have time to make a social message on Wall Street. They are looking every day. Some of them are my relatives that I have empathy for or feel sorry for because they can’t find work.”

Cain continued, “So this is why I’m so passionate when I say, direct your frustration over at the White House because of the failed policies.”

How much responsibility should banks take for the current financial crisis? “I would say that 50 percent of it is Obama’s fault, 25 percent of it is Wall Street’s fault and 25 percent of it is the individual’s fault.”

Cain also spoke about his views on homosexuality being a choice, a claim he first made on ABC’s “The View,” where he said there was no scientific evidence to show otherwise. Cain delved into that during his interview with Morgan.

In his interview with Morgan, Cain said: “I think it’s a sin because of my biblical beliefs and although people don’t agree with me, I think it’s a personal choice. Show me evidence other than opinion and you might cause me to reconsider that.”